Ruby builds on the knowledge base a fourth grader brings to the study of language arts and literature. Thought-provoking selections by authors including Elizabeth Friedrich, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Carol Fisher Saller provide the foundation for building strong language, reasoning, and writing skills. The book enables the student reader to explore universal themes like courage, loyalty, compassion, and fair play. An innovative extensive poetry unit comprised of six dynamic lessons introduces fourth grade learners to the pleasure of understanding poetry and its complexity.